Tag: Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation

Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation unveils new orchard to celebrate Jewish New Year for Trees

Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation unveils new orchard, growing its Biblical Garden to celebrate Tu B’Shevat

On Sunday 1st February 2026, Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation (EHC) unveiled its new orchard with an outdoor ceremony taking place in the synagogue’s garden and coinciding with the Jewish New Year for Trees, Tu B’Shevat.

Over 50 people from the Jewish and wider Edinburgh community gathered to hear from EHC member and leader of the EHC Green Team, Lesley Danzig, who spoke about the importance of trees from an ecological perspective and their significance in the Jewish tradition.

Lesley said: “In our garden we already have an olive and fig tree but today we are celebrating the planting of a new fruit tree orchard beginning with the planting of dessert apple trees, a cooking apple tree and a pear tree. 

“We hope to make good use of the fruit in the EHC kitchen, also distributing to members and the wider community.”

Lesley announced plaques beneath three of the trees, which were sponsored by members and friends of the congregation and dedicated in memory of loved ones.

A pear tree was sponsored by Raymond Taylor to remember his wife Jackie, who served as Honorary Secretary of EHC for over 20 years.

A discovery apple tree was dedicated by Professor Jonathan Seckl to his parents, Zehava and Josef Seckl.

Finally, a Bramley apple tree was sponsored by Molly Seckl in recognition of Dorothe Kaufmann, a friend of EHC and avid volunteer in the synagogue’s Biblical Garden. EHC’s Biblical Garden has been cultivated to include species that are mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and attracts visitors of all different faiths.

Lesley spoke in tribute to Dorothe: “In December last year our dear friend, Dorothe Kaufmann, passed away.  She was a member of Friends of Israel attending most of the weekly hostage vigils. 

“Dorothe was also a staunch supporter of EHC for many years,  attending various events, selling her own propagated plants at the coffee mornings and working in the garden. In fact many of the plants in the EHC garden were brought in as seeds and cuttings from her own patch at home and planted here by Dorothe.”

Dorothe’s plaque read: “Donated in support of Friends of Israel in memory of Dorothe Kaufmann. 1st February 2026”.

Lesley thanked her team of volunteer gardeners – Yonatan Eisenberg, Rachel Salzano, Ethel Mendius, Jonathan Danzig, John Danzig, and Howie Carson – who prepared the ground and planted the trees over the past month.

Following the ceremony, the attendees retired inside for tea, coffee, and a wide array of fruits.

Tours are available for the EHC Biblical Garden and can be booked via the EHC website.

Edinburgh’s Jewish community comes together to celebrate Burns Night 2026

A Burns Supper with a Yiddish twist

On Sunday (25th January – Burns Night 2026) in Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation (EHC), the diverse Jewish community of Scotland’s capital city came together to celebrate the life and works of the country’s national poet, Robert Burns.

Around 100 people were treated to fantastic food and entertainment, including poetry and musical recitals. This was a traditional Burns Supper with a Jewish – and particularly Yiddish – twist.

The evening was a cross-communal celebration involving Edinburgh Jewish Culture Centre (EJCC); EHC; Sukkat Shalom, the Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community; the Edinburgh Jewish Literary Society; and The University of Edinburgh’s Jewish Society (EJSOC).

Proceedings began with a welcome (and time warning) from David Ian Neville, Chairman of the Burns Supper, who also compèred the Supper. Handwashing and Hamotzi was led by EHC’s Rabbi Rose and Fiona Brodie read The Selkirk Grace, before the soup course of the kosher menu was served.

Brodie Watson-Massey piped in the specially made vegetarian haggis then Fiona Brodie again took the stage to read a Burns-inspired Scots-Yiddish hybrid address to the meal named The Address to the Fress. Andrea Torres, Chair of Sukkat Shalom, toasted the haggis both in English and her native Spanish, before everyone tucked into the traditional haggis, neeps and tatties.

Following the main course, guests were treated to ‘The First Interlude’, which saw Ella Lambert, EJCC member and former President of EJSOC, sing Burns’s Ae Fond Kiss; and Howard Brodie sing Burns’s lyrics for Charlie is My Darlin’ and Ye Jacobites By Name, accompanied on the piano by the exceptional musician Phil Alexander.

Cloutie dumpling and custard was served for dessert before David Neville gave ‘A Toast to Robert Burns’ and Rabbi Rose led bensching.

After the meal, three of the most famous elements of a Burns Supper were delivered with aplomb by members of the community: Michael Elam performed a stirring rendition of Burns’s epic poem Tam O’Shanter, Benjamin Birns gave a good-humoured ‘Toast to the Lassies’, and Maya Young gave a spirited ‘Reply to the Toast to the Lassies’. 

The evening concluded with Rabbi Mark Solomon of Sukkat Shalom singing some of Burns’s finest songs, all accompanied by Phil Alexander on the piano: Rantin’ Rovin’ Robin, A Man’s a Man for a’ That, Scots and Yiddish renditions of The Deil’s Awa’ wi’ th’ Exciseman and My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose, followed by Ye Banks and Braes.

In a traditional finale, everyone present joined arm in arm to sing Auld Lang Syne, a fitting end to a memorable event that brought Edinburgh’s diverse Jewish community closer together.

Swinney: Scotland must stand firm against those who seek to divide us

First Minister speaks out on Manchester synagogue attack

First Minister John Swinney has urged communities to stand united in condemnation at the violence inflicted upon the Jewish community with the attack at the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester. 

Mr Swinney said now more than ever, division and hatred of all forms – especially the evil of antisemitism – must be rejected and communities must stand firm against those that seek to divide our country. 

Last night the First Minister expressed his horror at the Heaton Park attacks during a private visit to the Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation, where he was able to reiterate his solidarity with Scotland’s Jewish community and stress the additional and dedicated Police Scotland patrols around synagogues and other Jewish venues in Scotland.

In an expression of solidarity, flags flying from Scottish Government buildings have been lowered until 20:00 today.   

Mr Swinney also received a briefing from the UK Government Security Minister, and Scotland’s Justice Secretary has had further conversations with the Chief Constable of Police Scotland to ensure every necessary step is being taken in Scotland to provide reassurance to Jewish communities. 

Speaking uesterday, First Minister John Swinney said: “The horror of the violence inflicted upon the Jewish Community with the Heaton Park attack is utterly unimaginable. I cannot stress enough my sympathy with those families and their friends who have lost their loved ones, and my solidarity with the Jewish community in Scotland and across the whole of the United Kingdom. 

“I know just what a distressing time this is for our Jewish communities, with fears and worry over the consequences of Heaton Park playing on their mind. I can assure our Jewish community that we will do everything necessary to ensure their continued safety, and additional security and policing is in place around synagogues and Jewish community venues. 

“When society is faced with unimaginable horror, we must take solace in the things that unite us. We must stand firm against those that seek to divide us. Now more than ever, division and all form of hatred – especially evil antisemitism – must be rejected and I urge communities across Scotland to stand firm against those that seek to divide our country. 

“Scotland’s diversity and our inclusive outlook is one of our greatest strengths. It is a precious commodity which we must all work to cherish and maintain, especially at moments of strain.   

“In this spirit, I take great pride in Drumlanrig Peace Accord, which was agreed in Scotland and marks a profound step forward in fostering mutual respect and understanding between Jewish and Muslim communities.

“Scotland stands ready to support efforts that build bridges, promote solidarity, and ensure that all our citizens can face challenges together in peace and unity.” 

Attack on Heaton Hebrew Congregation: A Statement

Attack on Heaton Hebrew Congregation: Statement from Timothy Lovat, Chair, Jewish Council of Scotland, Henry Lovat, President, Glasgow Jewish Representative Council and Matthew Shaps, Chair, Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation (written 2nd October 2025, following the conclusion of Yom Kippur):

“We are devastated by the terrorist attack that took place this morning at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Manchester, on Yom Kippur.

The victims, their families, and the entire Manchester Jewish community are in our thoughts and prayers during this time of profound grief and fear.

This awful attack is a tragic reminder of the manner in which hatred and intolerance towards Jewish people – whether put explicitly as such or directed (nominally) at “Zionists” or other euphemisms – can translate into deadly acts of violence aimed at our community.

Sentiments of concern and condolence from those whose words and conduct have previously increased rather than addressed the fears of our community, will inevitably ring hollow.

Rather, to be meaningful any words of concern must now be matched by substantive action to confront and combat antisemitism in all its forms.

Anti-Jewish sentiment and communal fears in the UK have been stoked by our political leaders’ use of inflammatory and irresponsible language about the ongoing, tragic conflict in Israel and Gaza.

With this in mind, we call on political and community leaders across Scotland to act urgently to stop fanning the flames of hatred, and – once again – to work with and alongside, rather than vilifying and alienating, the Jewish community of Scotland, to support rather than undermine community cohesion across our nation. 

We thank Police Scotland for their continued engagement with and support for Jewish communities across Scotland at this extremely fraught juncture. 

Last, we would once again urge all members of the community attending synagogues or other community premises to follow all instructions from police and security, and in particular not to congregate outside communal premises and to keep doors closed at all times.”